R. H. PECK, 1861.
REMINISCENCIES OF A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER
OF CO. C, 2nd VA. CAVALRY.
After a lapse of half a century, I will try to relate in a commonplace way,the circumstances which came under my observation during the dark days of1860-1865. Having engaged in 54 battles, some of them the hardest foughtones too, and coming through without being wounded at all, while many of mycomrades fell by my side or were maimed for life, I feel that a guardian angelaccompanied me and that I have much for which to be thankful.
One might think that at my age, which in a few months will be 74 years,that I only remember the occurrences of the war in a vague way, but to mymind’s eye, it is as vivid as if it had only taken place quite recently. I wasonly 23 years old when I went into actual warfare, so I was in a way, freefrom care. But many of the saddest memories of my life hover over the darkdays of ’60-65 and the doleful period that followed.
CHAPTER I.
In the year 1859 at Fincastle, Va., I enlisted with a company called “TheBotetourt Dragoons.” This company was composed of 106 men, ready andwilling to defend their country when called upon. Our officers were as follows:Andrew L. Pitzer, Capt.; Wm. A. Glasgow, 1st Lieut.; Wm. Price, 2nd Lieut.;and Jas. R. Thompson, Orderly Serg. Our first Serg. was Edward Brugh,second Serg. Wm. Garret and third Serg. Thomas McClure. Our first Corporalwas William A. McCue, 2nd Corporal Robert Rieley and 3rd Corporal Geo. Peck.
We were called out by our captain for drills and parades usually on Sat.Our uniforms were navy blue with yellow trimmings. We had general mustersonce each year. We were invited to Buchanan, Salem and other points.
On our march to Salem we lined up in front of Hollins Institute and calledon Prof. Cocke for an address, which he gave in his usual pleasant manner andfinished it by inviting us to dine with him on our return. Capt. Hupp’s Batteryof Salem, and Capt. Dierly’s Infantry of Roanoke, met us there. Col. RobertPreston, of Blacksburg, addressed the companies, also Capt.s Hupp, Pitzerand Dierly. All this was enjoyed, but not so much as the time spent with Prof.Cocke on our return three days later. We received genuine Virginia hospitality,such as we longed for many times in the four years which followed.
As the John Brown raid had already occurred we soon found that our servicemust be for defence and not only for practice. South Carolina, Mississippiand several other states had already seceded from the Union and when AbrahamLincoln called out 70,000 men to coerce the states, the majority of our menwanted to go to Manassas Junction to protect our capitol, Richmond. We werecalled first to Lynchburg for drilling and future orders.
FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR.
We left Fincastle on the morning of May 17, 1861, amid the cheers, goodwishes, farewells and tears of mothers, wives and sweethearts. The ladies hadprepared neat little pin cushions supplied with pins and needles, also bandagecotton and hospital necessities, some of which were needed before we hadgotten five miles from Fincastle. Trooper Frasier spied a “frizzly hog” andcalled the attention of his comrades, which created so much laughter that hishorse on seeing the hog and hearing the noise, became unmanageable and threwFrazier, whose head had to be bandaged, there and then in vinegar and brownpaper, (in the language of Jack and Jill.)
We marched off gaily uniformed now in gray, f